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E. J. MALLETT, Jr. Disinfeoting Device for Urinals, 8w.

Patented Mar. 23, 1880.

WITNESSES INVENTOB.

' ATTORNEY MFEYEHS, PHUTO-LXTHDCRAPHER. VILSHINGTUN, D c

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. MALLETT, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DISINFECTING DEVICE FOR URINALS, 84c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,842, dated March 23, 1880,

Application filed February 9, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD J. MALLE'IT, J r., of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and 1111- proved Disinfecting Device for Urinals and the like, of which the following is a specification'.

In order to neutralize the offensive odor arising from urinals, it has been the practice, to some extent, to put in the urinal-bowl some substance, usually carbolic soap or a soaplike block or cake of which one of the constituents is a preparation of carbolic acid.

Vith the same general object in view, I employ, not a detergent, such as the compound heretofore used, but a disinfectant in the true sense of the word, and the disinfectant I place in a case or shell, from which it will be given 0% very gradually, but still in quantity sufficient to prevent all offensive odor, and to neutralize and destroy all gases that might otherwise be generated in or arise from the urinal.

The disinfectant which I employ is prefer-a bly chloride of zinc--not liquid, but solid which is inclosed in a case or shell of suitable material impervious to water, the said case or inclosing-shell being provided with an opening closed by a porous absorbent substance which, by capillary action, will take up liquid in quantity sufficient to dissolve a small portion of the chloride, the liquid thus charged being gradually given off from the case or shell and mixing with the urine, which passes off from the urinal through the soil-pipe.

In the accompanying drawing I have represented my device in its preferred form.

The figure represents a central section of the device.

The case or shell A, which incloses the dis- -Iecting material, is a hollow glass ball, such are now in the market and used by marksmen as targets in lieu of birds. The ball is very cheap, and, indeed, constitutes the most economical case or shell that I am now aware of, and it is of sufficient internal capacity to hold enough chloride of zinc to last for about three weeks under ordinary conditions. The glass is advantageous besides, in that it e11- ables the attendant to at once see when the supply of disinfecting material within has been exhausted.

The ball is filled with the chloride of zinc, B, which is put in along with the wicking, O, the latter extending into the mouth of the opening a in the hall. For further security I close the mouth a by a metallic perforated or reticulated cap, I), which is held in place by spring-legs 0, extending into the interior of the ball, and pressing against opposite sides of the mouth a. The wicking may be wrapped around these legs, as shown, and extend outwardly, so as to be in contact with the cap b.

To use the device, it is placed mouth downward in the urinal, and in practice I provide for it a porcelain or other ring, in which the ball may be set mouth downward.

Such portion of the urine as may from time to time strike the ball runs downaround it and upon the cap, whence it is in part taken up by the wicking, thus bringing it in contact with the chloride of zinc, with which it will becomeimpregnated or charged. In this way there will from time to time be given off from the ball small quantities of chloride of zinc in solution, suflicient, however, to keep the urinal clean and free from smell. I find that a ball thus prepared will last about three weeks.

At the end of that time it will be emptied of So its contents and may be thrown away and replaced by a fresh one.

1 have described what I deem to be the best form of device. It is manifest, however, that the details may be varied. For instance, the wicking may be dispensed with and a finely perforated or reticulated cap alone used. So, too, the cap might be dispensed with and the wicking or some equivalent substance alone employed. The form and size of the case or shell may also be varied, and it can be made of any suitable material; but I prefer, on the whole, for general use, the arrangement shown in the drawing.

Having described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A disinfecting device for urinals and the like, consisting of a shell or case containing disinfecting material and provided with an openin g or mouth closed by acover or stopper formed 2 seasee substantially as described, to admit the passage of liquid in small quantity into and from the shell or case, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The disinfecting device consisting of the glass shell containing disinfecting material the wicking, and the perforated cap, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. A disinfecting device comprising these elements, viz: a case or shell, disinfecting material contained and inclosed in said shell,

and a porous and absorbent body filling the mouth or opening in said shell and extending into or in contact with the disinfecting material, under the arrangement and for operation substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of February, A. D. 1880.

, EDWARD J. MALLETT, JR. Witnesses:

(JASPER L. COHN, WM. G. MORRISON. 

